I don't free range my rooster and 2 hens every day but if the weather is good and I'll be home all day, I will let them out of their run. On Friday, I left them out for a few hours and I noticed they were very antsy and vocal most of the day and spent a lot of time under my front porch or on it. I figured they were just being chickens.
On Sat. I kept them in their run and it turned out to be a good thing. At first I heard my rooster let out a loud scream (best way to describe it) as he herded up himself and his girls into their coop. Then I saw a redtail hawk swoop down from the black walnut tree about 50 ft. away from their enclosed run, looking for a way to get thru the poultry netting on top. He flew onto a low hanging branch nearby to check out things a little closer. I immediately started walking towards their run and the hawk flew off.
It took quite awhile before the chickens all came out of the safety of their coop and I noticed they were very quiet for the rest of the day....the rooster didn't even crow. The neighbor's roosters also were very quiet for the rest of the day.
So I'm sitting on my front porch about an hour later and I heard the rooster scream again! This time he herded his girls into the coop and he stayed outside their coop and near the door. I watched the hawk fly down to the ground this time and he stayed there for a moment before again making a strike at the run. My rooster stayed put and was making a noise that would scare a Ninja Warrior!
Again I started walking towards their run and it was enough to scare the hawk off and this time he left the area. For now....
He was an immature redtail who's tail feathers haven't turned red yet. It might have been his immaturity that saved my chickens or he wasn't hungry enough.
On Sat. I kept them in their run and it turned out to be a good thing. At first I heard my rooster let out a loud scream (best way to describe it) as he herded up himself and his girls into their coop. Then I saw a redtail hawk swoop down from the black walnut tree about 50 ft. away from their enclosed run, looking for a way to get thru the poultry netting on top. He flew onto a low hanging branch nearby to check out things a little closer. I immediately started walking towards their run and the hawk flew off.
It took quite awhile before the chickens all came out of the safety of their coop and I noticed they were very quiet for the rest of the day....the rooster didn't even crow. The neighbor's roosters also were very quiet for the rest of the day.
So I'm sitting on my front porch about an hour later and I heard the rooster scream again! This time he herded his girls into the coop and he stayed outside their coop and near the door. I watched the hawk fly down to the ground this time and he stayed there for a moment before again making a strike at the run. My rooster stayed put and was making a noise that would scare a Ninja Warrior!
Again I started walking towards their run and it was enough to scare the hawk off and this time he left the area. For now....
He was an immature redtail who's tail feathers haven't turned red yet. It might have been his immaturity that saved my chickens or he wasn't hungry enough.
